Bottle cap



P. S. KLEIN BOTTLE CAP April 16, 1963 Filed Nov. 14, 1961 INVENTOR.PQZ/L S. KL .E/K/

United States Patent 3,085,709 BOTTLE CAP Paul S. Klein, Los Angeles,Calif., assignor to 42 Products, Ltd, Inc, Santa Monica, Calif., acorporation of California v Filed Nov. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 152,343 2Claims. (Cl. 220-23) This invention relates generally to bottle caps andmore particularly to a novel cap having a transparent hollow domecontaining an article on display.

It is an object of this invention to provide a bottle cap containing anarticle to be exhibited and of such construction that its componentparts may be molded of plastics and be easily assembled with tightinterfit mto a sturdy unit.

Another object is to provide a novel package of a box containing abottle with a cap of the above mentioned character projecting throughthe top of the box and presenting the exhibited article on view.

A general object is to provide a bottle cap of the above-mentionedcharacter which is simple and strong in construction so as to withstandthe degree of rough handling to which it is subjected in use and becapable of economical manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will appear during the course of thefollowing part of this specification wherein the details of constructionand manner of assembling component parts of an embodiment of theinvention are described with reference to the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a bottle having a cap embodying thisinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top view of the capped bottle;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section through the cap taken along line 3-3 ofFIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a box containing a bottle with a capof this invention, the box being cut away to show the bottle and cap.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail, the bottle shown in FIGURES1-3 is designated by reference numeral 10, and its cap, embodying thisinvention, is designated generally by numeral 12. The bottle of FIG-URES l-3 is a round cylindrical bottle having a neck 13 defining thebottle opening 14, the neck having an external screw thread 15 for screwconnection with the cap.

The cap 12 comprises a body formed of a relatively firm elastomer, e.g.,polyethylene, having a frusto-Ebnical side wall 17, the smaller end ofwhich is designated by numeral 18 and the larger end by numeral 19.Disposed aixally Within the side wall 17 is a substantially cylindricalwall 21, defining an end opening 22 for the cap, the cylindrical wallbeing integral throughout its circumferential extent with thefrusto-conical wall 17 at the smaller end 18 of the wall 17. Cap body 16includes a closure wall 23 for covering the bottle opening 14, theclosure wall being integral around its circumference with the inner endof the cylindrical wall 21. The several walls 17, 21 and 23 of the bodyare molded as a unit. The outside surface of the cylindrical wall 21 maybe slightly tapered toward its inner end to permit easy removal of thebody from the mold in which it is formed.

Walls 21 and 23 define a socket 24 of the cap open at 22 for receivingthe neck 13 of the bottle. The inside of the cylindrical wall 21 isprovided with screw threads 26 for engagement with the screw threads 15on the neck of the bottle. On that side of the closure wall 23 whichfaces toward the larger end 19 of the frusto-conical side wall 17, thereare crossed ridges 28 which provide a con- 3,035,709 Patented Apr. 16,1963 venient means for imparting rotation to the cap body to unscrew thesame from its mold.

On the inside of the frusto-conical wall 17 is an annular groove 30proximate the larger end 19 of wall 17, the groove 30 being in a planeperpendicular to the axis of the cap body. Groove 30 is spaced slightlyinward from the larger end 19 of the side wall 17 thereby defining a rimportion 32 of the wall 17. The inside surface 33 of the rim ispreferably cylindrical. A circular flat sheet 35 of cardboard orplastics, for example, extends across the space bounded by the wall 17at groove 30, with the margin of sheet 35 extending into the groovethereby to position the sheet 35 within the side wall 17 on a horizontalplane. The upper surface 36 of the sheet may be suitably colored, and,if desired, may have a thin covering of felt (not shown).

Cap 12 includes a hollow hemispherical dome 39 of transparent material,e.g., rigid plastics, projecting outwardly from the larger end 19 of thecap body 16. The dome has an annular flange 40 extending radiallyoutward at the base of the dome, the flange being received in theannular groove 30 above and seated upon the margin of the flat sheet 35.The cap body 16 being formed of an elastomer, may be expanded forinsertion of the sheet 35 and the flanged base of the dome 39 within thegroove 30. To provide for close interfit of the cap parts, the wall ofthe dome 39 is preferably cylindrical in that portion 42 thereof whichis contiguous its flange 40 and is received within the cylindricalsurface 33 of rim 32 of the cap body, the outside of the cylindricalportion 42 being flush throughout its circumferential extent with thecylindrical surface 33. Also, the groove 30 is of such width, axially ofthe cap, that the sheet 35 and the flange 40 of the dome are undercompression within the groove.

The dome houses an article to be exhibited as a pair of dice 44, in thecase of the illustrated embodiment. The dice are tossable around withinthe dome by shaking the bottle, then resting, of course, upon the flatsheet 35 when the bottle is erect.

Referring to FIGURE 4, there is shown a package, designated generally byreference numeral 48, comprising a box 49 of cardboard containing abottle 50 with a bottle cap 12, the bottle 50 being of rectangular crosssection. Box 49 includes a top closure panel 52. with a tuck-in flap 53at one side and a scored edge 54 along its other side at which the toppanel is foldably hinged to a side panel 55 of the box.

The top panel 52 has a centrally disposed opening 58 through which thedome 39 of cap 12 projects, the dimensions of the box, 'bottle and capbeing such that the top panel 52 seats upon the cap rim 33 around theopening 58. Thus, the package 48 has the cap dome 39 exposed to view atthe top of the package in a central position for exhibition of the dice44.

While the particular bottle cap herein shown and disclosed in detail isfully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantageshereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merelyillustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention andthat no limitations are intended to the details of construction ordesign herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cap for a bottle having a neck with external screw threads, the capcomprising a hollow body of relatively stiff elastomer having anoutwardly and upwardly flaring side Wall merging at its lower end with asubstantially cylindrical wall positioned concentrically within saidside wall, a closure wall integral with and spanning the inner end ofsaid cylindrical wall, the inside of said cylindrical 'wall having screwthreads for releasable engagement with the screw threads of a bottleneck, said cylindrical wall and said closure wall defining a socket forreception of the neck of said bottle, the upper inner rim edge of saidside wall having an inwardly opening annular groove, a circular fiatsheet of stiff material having its circumferentially continuous marginsupported in said groove, a hollow hemispherical dome of transparentresilient material having an annular flange projecting outwardlytherefrom and seated firmly in said groove, and a pair of dice heldcaptive within the dome, the dice being tossable around within the domeand resting on said flat surface when the cap is secured in place on anupright bottle neck.

2. A bottle cap as defined in claim 1 characterized in that the sidewall of said cap is frusto-conical with said transparent dome beingmounted across the larger end thereof, and being further characterizedin that said side Wall is opaque and effective as a finger grip whenremoving and replacing said cap with respect to a bottle neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,298,938 Griffin et al Oct. 13, 1942 2,305,002 Harris Dec. 15, 19422,487,620 Waller Nov. 8, 1949 3,029,934 Hennessey Apr. 17, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS 220,376 Great Britain Aug. 15, 1924 1,112,358 France Nov. 16,1955 1,138,250 France Jan. 21, 1957

1. A CAP FOR A BOTTLE HAVING A NECK WITH EXTERNAL SCREW THREADS, THE CAP COMPRISING A HOLLOW BODY OF RELATIVELY STIFF ELASTOMER HAVING AN OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY FLARING SIDE WALL MERGING AT ITS LOWER END WITH A SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL WALL POSITIONED CONCENTRICALLY WITHIN SAID SIDE WALL, A CLOSURE WALL INTEGRAL WITH AND SPANNING THE INNER END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL, THE INSIDE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL HAVING SCREW THREADS FOR RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE SCREW THREADS OF A BOTTLE NECK, SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL AND SAID CLOSURE WALL DEFINING A SOCKET FOR RECEPTION OF THE NECK OF SAID BOTTLE, THE UPPER INNER RIM EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALL HAVING AN INWARDLY OPENING ANNULAR GROOVE, A CIRCULAR FLAT SHEET OF STIFF MATERIAL HAVING ITS CIRCUMFEREN- 